Editor's note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is count down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today's list: The top 10 high school golfers in Tucson history.
Rincon High School’s Ken Engle reached the 18th tee at Randolph North Golf Course needing a birdie to tie Salpointe Catholic's Cyril Shettleroe for the state championship.
It was May 14, 1965, and Shettleroe was generally considered the top upcoming boys golfer in Tucson. Engle, who had shot a 2-over par 74 in the opening round, was trying to keep pace.
After a strong drive down the middle on the par-5 finishing hole, Engle chose to hit a 7-iron from about 175 yards. It would be the most historic shot in the history of Tucson prep golf.
"I knew I was going to break par," Engle said. "But when the ball disappeared off the green I heard a hollow clang. I thought was coming from the (adjacent) ninth hole. I figured it was too early for my ball to be approaching the cup."
Not only did Engle’s shot approach the cup, it dropped in. It was a double-eagle 2, and Engle was the 1965 state champion, beating Shettleroe by two strokes. Salpointe, however, won the boys team championship; Rincon was seventh, 28 strokes back.
Engle didn’t shoot the best score for a Tucson golfer in state history — he was even-par over two days — but since the state championship golf tournament began in 1939, no one has matched his double-eagle at just the right time.
Here’s our list of Tucson’s 10 leading state golf champions, boys and girls, over those 77 years:
